The Demon’s Song by Kendra Leigh Castle

PJV Quickie: I’ve been trying to get into reading more Angel books ever since I discovered the book blogging world. I’ve heard good and bad things about the whole trend (mostly because people are tired of it) and I’m happy to say that The Demon’s Song falls on the good side of that trend. From the beginning to the very end this book had my complete attention. Kendra Leigh Castle writes wonderfully and, as a result, manages to create characters that you want to read about, as well as a very entertaining story.

Phenex, the angel of song, is a fallen who was banished to hell, along with his other fallen brothers. However, in order to maintain the balance between good and evil, Phenex and his band of brothers have been hired as mercenaries to protect the earth against demons. He takes up residence at an underworld kingdom ruled by the vampire, Justin. To earn his keep, Phenex has sworn to protect the kingdom and also plays at Justin’s club, which caters to vampires and a few humans. There he meets Sofia, who has sneaked into the club to find her friend, and is instantly attracted to her. Void of any emotion Phenex is surprised at his sudden interest in Sofia. He is given an opportunity to act on those feelings after Sofia is attacked by a vampire and he’s assigned as her bodyguard. However, though there is undeniable chemistry between them, the two struggle to find a way to find their happily ever after.

I loved Phenex and Sofia together: I liked that Phenex appreciated, and was even attracted to, the fiery Latina side of her. I have to admit that that is also what pulled me to Sofia. I loved that she was feisty and outspoken and really didn’t put up with crap. Then there’s Phenex; hot, sexy, and mouth watering delicious. What’s not to love about the two? And, my God, the chemistry…the chemistry could be felt with each new turn of a page. But, though I loved them together, I felt that the romance came on a bit strongly and way too fast. Admittedly, this was a 242 page book, but I’ve seen the timing of a romantic relationship done well in shorter books, although not often.

Another problem I had with the story was the lack of world building. Like I mentioned above, the author writes a great story, but I felt that there were certain things that could have been explained a little better. I would have loved to find out more about Phenex’s home, the underworld kingdom called Terra Noctem, as well as more about the Fallen. Also, after further research, it seems that this series is related to a separate book, Renegade Angel by Miss Castle. Apparently some characters found in this book have stories in the previous book and their roles/stories are a bit more clear after reading that one.

With that said, I truly enjoyed this book. My issues with it did not overshadow the story and I had no problem overlooking those small problems to enjoy the bigger picture. I thought the book was a light and fun read, and I enjoyed the funny moments thrown in, especially during Phenex and Gadreel’s interaction. I also appreciated the struggle to find a way to stay together because I think it makes their story feel a bit more real. It’s not something that’s cut and dry, it’s a tough decision and I loved that Sophia wasn’t instantly willing to give up her world to be with Phenex. Too often the mortal girl is willing to give up her entire life to be with her immortal lover, which I’m always annoyed by, so this is just another reason why I loved this couple together. Obviously I’m sad to see them go, but I can’t wait to pick up the second book in this series, The Demon’s Desire, which will be releasing sometime this year.

About The Author

I’m a 24-year-old graduate student living in New York. You can often find me in my car, outside my workplace, reading; in my workplace reading; or lying in bed, with the TV turned to Cartoon Network, reading. I’ll read anything as long as it’s not non-fiction, but I usually prefer paranormal romance and erotica. My other interests include psychology, shopping in Manhattan, and constantly redesigning my room.